How to avoid foreign exchange rip-offs on your holidays

The rates you will get at airport foreign exchanges are worse than you might think – planning ahead really is worthwhile, says Ruth Jackson.

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Change your money before you get to the airport
(Image credit: Credit: Greg Balfour Evans / Alamy Stock Photo)

If you're the kind of person who tends to leave buying holiday money until you get to the airport, then you probably already know you're not getting the best rate possible. However, it's worth being aware of quite how much money you're losing by leaving it until the last minute.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.